9 bank unions call for strike on Tuesday

Chennai, Feb 26 (IANS) The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions in the sector, has called a one-day strike on February 28 to protest the government’s “anti-people banking reforms” as well as to demand compensation for employees for extra work done on account of demonetisation.

“The unions in the banking industry have been fighting for more than two decades against the reform measures of the government as these are against the interests of general public and labour force in the country,” AIBEA said.

“Further, every effort is being made to outsource permanent jobs in the banking industry, too, which is fraught with risks,” it added.

Venkatachalam said the strike call comes after all attempts to find a solution to the demands raised by the unions yielded no results.

The conciliation meeting before the Chief Labour Commissioner on February 21 failed to break the deadlock as the bank management body — Indian Banks Association (IBA) — did not agree to the union demands.

Most state-run banks have informed customers that functioning of branches and offices will be hit if the strike goes ahead on Tuesday.